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Artwork for Hidden Forces

Hidden Forces

Demetri Kofinas
United States
China
Artificial Intelligence
Iran
Inflation
Donald Trump
Russia
Israel
Monetary Policy
Federal Reserve
Fiscal Policy
NATO
Investment Strategies
Trump Administration
U.S. Foreign Policy
Industrial Policy
Political Economy
Geopolitics
U.S. Dollar
Oil Market

Get the edge with Hidden Forces where media entrepreneur and financial analyst Demetri Kofinas gives you access to the people and ideas that matter, so you can build financial security and always stay ahead of the curve.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes520Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessGovernment

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Artwork for Hidden Forces

Latest Episodes

In Episode 495 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with political scientist Henry Farrell, co-author of Underground Empire, about how the United States built its empire, why the hidden infrastructure underwriting American hegemony is now buckli... more

In Episode 494 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Mark Galeotti — host of In Moscow's Shadows and one of the most informed and provocative voices on modern Russia — about the war in Ukraine, the risk that it spills over into NATO's easter... more

YouTube

In Episode 493 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with computational journalist and author John West about the surprising impermanence of the Internet, the shift from human agency to platform agency, the business models that have reshaped the ... more

YouTube

In Episode 492 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with science fiction author, journalist, and digital rights activist Cory Doctorow—who coined the term "enshittification"—about why he believes the AI bubble will prove more damaging than the 2... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Mark Galeotti
Leading voice on modern Russia; host of In Moscow's Shadows
Unspecified (academic/consultancy)
Episode: The West's Forgotten War and the New Russia | Mark Galeotti
John West
Computational journalist at The Wall Street Journal and author of The Internet Will Die and So Will You
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: The Internet Will Die and So Will You | John West
Cory Doctorow
Science fiction author, journalist, and digital rights activist
Digital rights activism, author
Episode: The AI Enshittification Bubble | Cory Doctorow
Chad Bown
Trade economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, co-author of How to Win a Trade War
Peterson Institute for International Economics
Episode: How to Win a Trade War | Chad Bown
Mary Bridges
Historian of 20th-century America; senior fellow at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator
Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator
Episode: How America Built A Durable Dollar Empire | Mary Bridges
Vali Nasr
Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Iran's New Grand Strategy | Vali Nasr
Daniel Yergin
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and leading authority on energy, geopolitics and the global economy
S&P Global (Vice Chairman)
Episode: Schrödinger's Strait and the New Energy Order | Daniel Yergin
Ian Shapiro
Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at Yale University
Yale University
Episode: After the Fall: Reckoning with the End of History | Ian Shapiro
Dean Ball
AI policy researcher, writer, incoming head of strategic futures at OpenAI
OpenAI
Episode: AI Governance and the National Security State | Dean W. Ball

Host

Demetri Kofinas
Host of Hidden Forces

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • AI arrogance

    Dean Ball's interview contained so many "likes" that if was almost unlistenable.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Workforce Consultant
    United States2 months ago
  • Great topics. But mouth the sounds of some guests…

    Enjoy the topics covered by Hidden Forces. Great host too. But, if you have misophonia, just beware that because the microphone/audio is so clear, you will hear if a guest is a lip-smacker, or sounds “wet mouthed,” or breathes loudly. I couldn’t get through the surveillance state topic because the mics picked up the guest’s wet smacks a little too clearly. I wish these sounds could be edited out or mitigated somehow. Thankful a transcript is provided!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Arcee in WA
    United States3 months ago
  • SMP

    So much propaganda.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    InHouTX
    United States4 months ago
  • Demetri is a great host

    Especially when by being open minded he exposes “intellectual-yet-idiots” like Bruno Macaes. Overall, be brings a fascinating array of thinkers on and that makes for a lively show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Certaminis Princeps
    United States6 months ago
  • Finally, my delayed thank you!

    I’ve been listening to Demetri Kofinas for so long and being thinking of writing a five star review for a lot as well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it due to my choice of podcast. With iPad I can finally finish this.

    I appreciate all the talks and books and lately the newsletters. I need to work out my payment method so that I can pay some fees. You know I am cut off from the rest of the world.

    Thank You Thank you Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Notallwhowanderislost
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently valuable for those seeking macroeconomic and geopolitical analysis.
High-quality discussions, but some listeners note audio or pacing issues.
Host engages deeply but may interrupt guests at times, per listener feedback.
Thoughtful, rigorous interviews with deep guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#133
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#208
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#193
Australia/Business
Apple Podcasts
#118
Switzerland/Business
Apple Podcasts
#152
Singapore/Business
Apple Podcasts
#159
Argentina/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The West's Forgotten War and the New Russia | Mark Galeotti
Q: What is the logic under which Putin operates, and what drives his decision-making?
Putin is a rational actor whose decisions are driven primarily by personal survival and political security, shaped by incomplete information and the influence of his trusted inner circle and security services; he seeks to maintain control and endure the war while managing threats to his regime.
SpaceX, Europe's China Problem, and the Populist Backlash | Patrick Boyle
Q: So you are the goat in the world of smart person podcasting. I mean, you just keep crushing it.
A playful moment; the guest explains his approach to content and how consistent output and deep research drive growth, while emphasizing passion for learning and research as the engine behind his successful channel.
How America Built A Durable Dollar Empire | Mary Bridges
Q: Why did National City Bank end up absorbing IBC, and what did that mean for the international banking network?
National City leveraged its scale to standardize and expand the network, keeping IBC's staff and buildings to preserve continuity while gradually integrating operations under a larger national framework.
After the Fall: Reckoning with the End of History | Ian Shapiro
Q: What was the core reason NATO enlargement occurred despite concerns about Russia?
The Clinton administration pursued enlargement as a domestic political move and a pragmatic path of least resistance, while the administration underestimated how Russian perceptions of these moves would destabilize relations; they believed they could sequence integration with East Europe while managing Russia, but in practice expansion continued and contributed to later tensions.
AI Governance and the National Security State | Dean W. Ball
Q: What is AI in Dean Ball's terms, and how does he conceptualize intelligence?
AI is machines that can think in flexible, human-like ways using statistical approaches to model data; intelligence, in his view, is the ability to infer patterns from data observations and to compress information into useful concepts that enable predictions and meaning."

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden Forces

What is Hidden Forces about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners likely engage with deep-dive conversations at the intersection of geopolitics, economics, technology, and policy. Episodes routinely feature serious reads on empire, global markets, AI governance, and strategic risk, often with guests who are academics, policy researchers, or industry critics. The show is probably appealing to listeners who enjoy rigorous analysis, long-form debate, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, with a distinctive focus on how power, information, and technology shape global outcomes. A notable strength is its ability to connect historical context to contemporary policy and market dynamics, offering a thoughtful, sometimes provocative lens on the forces shaping the world. Potential guests or s... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Hidden Forces?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hidden Forces:

1. Macro Voices
2. Forward Guidance
3. Monetary Matters with Jack Farley
4. Thoughtful Money with Adam Taggart
5. The Meb Faber Show - Better Investing

How many episodes of Hidden Forces are there?

Hidden Forces launched 10 years ago and published 520 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Hidden Forces?

Recent guests on Hidden Forces include:

1. Mark Galeotti
2. John West
3. Cory Doctorow
4. Chad Bown
5. Mary Bridges
6. Vali Nasr
7. Daniel Yergin
8. Ian Shapiro

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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